Not because you’re disorganised. Because house relocation in Melbourne involves about forty moving parts happening simultaneously and no matter how on top of things you are, something always slips through. We’ve watched it happen on hundreds of moves over 7 years at Quick Load Movers. The same things come up over and over again, not the big obvious stuff, but the small things that nobody thinks about until they’re standing in an empty house at 4pm realizing they’ve just locked themselves out of the new place. Here are the seven things people forget most often. Sort these out before moving day and you’re already ahead of most people.
1. Updating Your Address With the Right People
Everyone remembers to tell their bank. Maybe their employer. But the list of places that hold your address is longer than most people realise and the ones people forget are almost always the ones that cause the most hassle later.
Medicare. The ATO. Your electoral roll. Your car registration. Your private health insurance. Your kids’ school. Your accountant. Your super fund. Any government rebates or payments you receive. Subscriptions that send physical mail. Your vet if you have pets.
Sit down before moving day and write out every single organisation that sends you something, mail, bills, statements, renewals, and work through the list one by one. Australia Post mail redirection buys you time but it’s not a permanent fix and it costs money the longer it runs. Do the list properly. It takes an hour and saves months of chasing down misdelivered mail.
2. Meter Readings at Both Properties
This one gets forgotten constantly and it causes genuine disputes. Take a clear photo of the electricity meter at your old place before you leave. Gas too if applicable. Write down the numbers and email them to yourself so there’s a timestamped record. Do the same thing when you arrive at the new place before you use anything.
Without these readings, you’re relying entirely on the utility company’s records if there’s ever a billing dispute. With them, you have proof of exactly what you used and exactly what you didn’t. It takes three minutes and it has saved people hundreds of dollars. The same goes for water if you’re in a property where water usage is separately metered.
3. Cleaning the Old Property Properly
People underestimate how much cleaning a vacated property needs. When all the furniture is out and the rooms are empty, every mark on the wall, every dusty corner, every grimy oven shelf is suddenly very visible.
In Melbourne the rental market is competitive and property managers do thorough exit inspections. Missing the cleaning standard your lease requires can cost you part or all of your bond, which in Melbourne is typically four weeks rent. That’s not a small amount.
If your lease specifies professional cleaning, carpet steam cleaning especially, book it in advance. Good cleaners in Melbourne get booked out, particularly at the end of month when half the city seems to be moving at the same time. Don’t leave it until the day before and discover no one’s available.
4. Defrosting the Fridge and Freezer
Simple one. Forgotten constantly. A fridge that goes on the truck without being defrosted and emptied properly will leak water through the entire load. It smells. It can damage boxes and other items. And the removalist team will not be happy about it.
Defrost the freezer at least twenty four hours before moving day. Empty the fridge completely. Wipe it out and leave the doors open overnight so it dries out properly. Tape the doors shut or use stretch wrap to hold them closed for the move.
Same with the washing machine, run a short empty cycle to drain any residual water from the drum and hoses before it goes on the truck.
5. Telling the Council You’re Moving
Rates notices, council correspondence, green waste collection, all of it is tied to your address with the local council. In Melbourne you’re dealing with one of thirty one different councils depending on where you live and where you’re going, and they don’t automatically know you’ve moved.
Notify your old council that you’re leaving so rates are adjusted correctly to your final date. Register with your new council so you’re set up correctly from the start. If you’re moving between council areas, say from Moreland to Stonnington, both need to know.
It sounds bureaucratic and it is. But getting a rates notice six months after you’ve moved for a property you no longer live in, or missing a pensioner concession at the new place because you never registered, is an annoying and avoidable problem.
6. Sorting Out Parking for the Moving Truck
Melbourne streets are not always removalist friendly. Narrow roads, clearways, tram corridors, permit parking zones, resident only streets, finding a spot for a large moving truck outside your property sounds straightforward until you try to actually do it.
Check the parking situation at both addresses before moving day. If your street requires a permit or has time restrictions, contact the local council in advance to arrange a temporary parking exemption for the truck. Most Melbourne councils offer this, but they need notice, sometimes several days worth.
Turning up on a moving day and discovering the only available spot is two hundred metres down the road adds time to the job, which adds cost, and adds a significant amount of frustration for everyone involved. Sort the parking out early. It’s one of those things to remember when moving house that seems minor until it isn’t.
7. Having Cash or Payment Ready on the Day
This one sounds obvious but it catches people out more than you’d think. Moving day is hectic. By the time the last box comes off the truck you’re tired, distracted, and running on whatever you ate for lunch three hours ago. The last thing you want to be doing is scrambling to find a working ATM or arguing with your bank’s transfer limits when the removalist team is standing there waiting.
Know in advance how your removalist expects to be paid. Card, bank transfer, cash — confirm this when you book, not on the day. If it’s a bank transfer, set it up in your banking app the day before so it’s ready to go. If there’s a possibility the final amount will differ from the quote due to extra time, have a buffer ready so it’s not a stressful conversation at the end of an already long day.
Quick load movers gives you a genuine upfront quote with nothing hidden, so the number you agreed to at the start is the number you pay at the end. But regardless of who you use, sort out the payment method before the day.
The Things to Remember When Moving House That Actually Get Forgotten
To pull it all together, the things people forget during house relocation aren’t the big obvious things. They’re the meter readings, the council notifications, the fridge that hasn’t been defrosted, the parking situation nobody checked, the address update list that stops at the bank and doesn’t go any further.
None of these are complicated. They just require thinking about the day before moving when there’s still time to sort them out, rather than after when the damage is already done.
Quick Load Movers has been helping Melbourne families move properly for over 7 years. Fully insured, upfront on pricing, and a team that genuinely knows what they’re doing. If you want a removalist who shows up prepared and gets the job done without the drama, call 0403870786.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the most common things people forget when moving house in Melbourne?
Meter readings, updating addresses with Medicare and the ATO, defrosting the fridge, arranging truck parking permits, and notifying the local council. None of these are complicated but all of them cause problems when left until the last minute or forgotten completely.
Do I need a parking permit for a removalist truck in Melbourne?
In many Melbourne streets yes. Permit zones, clearways, and tram corridors make parking a large truck genuinely difficult. Contact your local council a few days before moving day to arrange a temporary exemption. Most councils offer this but they need advance notice.
How much notice do Melbourne councils need when you’re moving?
Most Melbourne councils ask for a few business days notice to process address changes or arrange temporary parking permits. Contact both your old and new council before moving day. Leaving it until after the move means rates notices and correspondence keep going to the wrong address.
Should I clean the old property myself or hire a professional cleaner?
If your lease specifies professional cleaning, carpet steam cleaning especially, you need to hire one. DIY cleaning rarely meets the standard required for a full bond return in Melbourne. Book early because good cleaners fill up fast, particularly at the end of month.
How far in advance should I book a removalist for a Melbourne move?
At least four to six weeks out is ideal. Melbourne is a big city and reputable removalist companies fill up quickly, especially at the end of month and during school holiday periods. Booking early gives you better availability, more flexibility on timing, and often better rates.